(The webmaster would like to gratefully thank Jonathan Mack for his work in writing this wonderful article. May God reward him for his efforts.)

Cora Evans is a 20th century Catholic mystic with an amazing story of conversion and mystical journey. The information and photos from this article are the from the Cora Evans web site (http://www.coraevans.com) and curated from several of her published writings. I have had the pleasure of meeting the custodian for Cora’s writings, Mr. Michael McDevitt, who is the nephew of Cora Evan’s spiritual Director, Fr. Frank Parrish, S.J.. Michael’s Aunt and her Physician Husband were close friends of Cora and personally witnessed many of her Charisms.

The Vatican currently considers Cora a “Servant of God”, which is an initial step in the process towards sainthood. Christ’s plan for mankind’s salvation involves selection of individuals like Cora to carryout earth bound missions. Cora’s mission included promulgating the Mystical Humanity of Christ , which is a way of prayer that encourages people to live with a heightened awareness of the indwelling presence of Jesus in their daily lives. (CoraEvans.com). During her life she experienced such mysticisms as the stigmata, ecstasies, bi-location, and mystical writings based upon visions shown her by Jesus Christ.

Beginnings

Cora’s journey began with her birth on July 9,1904 in Midvale, Utah. Her first mystical experience happened when she was 3 years old in the form of an apparition of the Blessed Mother. She was unable to comprehend the vision but it left a profound mark upon her life. It was not until years later did she finally understand its meaning and message (Cora Evans.com)

Cora was a baptized into the Mormon faith at 8 yrs. of age and Cora lived her Mormon faith while participating in the close nit community life the Mormon faith is well known for. Cora and Her husband, Maclellan “Mack” Evans, where married on June 4, 1924 in the worldwide headquarters for the Mormon faith, Salt Lake City Utah Temple. The marriage ceremony within the Mormon Church is unique and left her disillusioned with the Mormon faith. Based upon that experience Cora began a 10 year journey ultimately leading her to the One True God (CoraEvans.com).

The following 10 years Cora and Mack had three children while living in Ogden Utah. They both suffered the pain and disappointment of losing one of their children during infancy. During this time Cora continued to investigate various religions but found none that met her longing. She considered Catholicism but due to pervasive ant-catholic sentiments within the Mormon church she ruled it out as a viable option.

Cora had a turning point while she lay ill in bed on Dec 9, 1934. While alone she listened to the radio and feeling too sick to change the channel she began to hear a radio program called the “Catholic Radio Hour”. As she listened to the broadcast of Monsignor Duane Hunt he spoke about the Blessed Mother and the Catholic faith. She found the messages from Monsignor Hunt conflicted with what she had come to understand as a Mormon about the Catholic faith.

After recovering from her illness Cora followed her curiosity about the Catholic faith and visited St Joseph Catholic Church located in her community. What followed were several meetings in her home between the parish priest for St Joseph Church, Father Edward Vaughn, and several Mormon bishops. Cora became aware of the misrepresentations by the Mormon Church of the Catholic faith thus beginning her road to catholic conversion.

Cora was subsequently baptized on March 30, 1935 followed by her First Holy Communion the next day. Cora’s husband Mack and her two daughters followed her into the Catholic faith. Father Vaughn credited Cora Evans directly with many Mormon conversions to Catholicism within her community totaling many hundreds.

Vow Day for a Mystic

Cora began experiencing mystical phenomena while still living in Utah and on July 1938, she had a profound mystical experience. Cora wrote about this event in the autobiography of her mystical life, titled “Captain of the Ship.” During this deep ecstasy Cora made the choice to serve God for the rest of her life. She described the state of her soul as being intimately united to God, and referred to this as her vow day:“It was necessary for me to live my chosen vocation with Him as my companion. By loaning Jesus my humanity for Him to govern as well as dwell within, would make my life a living prayer for He was life, living life within me, and my body now dead to me was His living cross, His cross to take to Calvary, Calvary, the door to eternal life” (Excerpt Cora Evans).

Move to Southern California and Spiritual Guidance

Photograph of Cora Evans taken during ecstasy by Mary Parrish McDevitt

(sister of Father Frank Parrish, S.J.) with hand-held box camera using a

time exposure so as to not disturb the mystic. The stigmata are

visible on left hand facing camera.

(Image from Cora Evans.com)

On Mar 17, 1941, 5-years after her baptism, and first communion her family made the painful decision to relocate to southern California. This was due impart to her husbands inability to acquire employment which drove them to leave family and friends. There she joined St. Cecelia Church, Archdiocese of Los Angles. As Cora began having experiences with greater frequency, including visitations by saints, she sought out guidance from the church. In response to her search for spiritual guidance, on February 20, 1945, Father Frank Parrish, S.J. was appointed her confessor and spiritual director by the Provincial of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

On December 24, 1946, Jesus revealed the mission entrusted to Cora. She learned that she was to promulgate the Mystical Humanity of Christ, a way of prayer that encourages people to live with a heightened awareness of the indwelling presence of Jesus in their daily lives. It is Eucharistic spirituality, and Jesus promised to foster the devotion. Father Frank served as the spiritual guide of Cora’s soul for the rest of her life. His written account of events is testimony to Cora’s heroic virtues and her reputation of sanctity.

Doctor John McDevitt, M.D. (Doctor Jack)

and Cora Evans, circa 1948.

Mary wrote on the back of the photo,

‘My favorite snapshot of Cora.

The expression on her face looks

so much as she appeared most of the time.

(Image from Cora Evans.com)

Hidden Mystic

Cora Suffers The Stigmata

Cora’s gifts of mysticism included suffering the wounds of Christ, known as the stigmata; the phenomena of bi-location associated with deep insight, the fragrance of roses associated with her presence, known as the odor of sanctity; visionary experiences, known as ecstasy; and profound writings far beyond her education level are not in and of themselves sufficient grounds for the declaration of sainthood. It is the story of her life with the proof of heroic virtues that places everything else in context

(except from the Cora Evans website). Cora’s writings amount to volumes of books. She was said to type rapidly and in order to keep up, rolls of paper were attached to the type writer allowing her to type unhindered by having to stop to change paper.

Prior to writing “The Refugee from Heaven”, Cora Evans expressed her gratitude to our Lord:“I knelt in prayer to thank Jesus for His gift of knowledge and for the gift of writing He had given me, better to describe His life and infinite love into our world.”

Cora prayed about the graces bestowed on her, the craft of writing, and the responsibility of accurately conveying our Lord’s wishes:“My soul gives Thee thanks for this great trust, and in that trust I believe Thou will help me write the knowledge for souls to use as a steppingstone to love Thee more. Cora Evans, Age 32 God’s gifts were so clearly caught up into my soul, there to write them for His glory for souls on earth. To begin such a task is only to lose myself in the mystery of time and pretend that I am a citizen of Jerusalem taking notes from the Master’s lips. I am just the reporter and of myself filled with many imperfections.”

She continued:“To understand, Beloved, the path of my mission would be to say with deepest sincerity, not my will be done, but Thine.” She always positioned writing as “an act of continuous praise for the glory of God.”(Excerpt CoraEvans.com)

Picture of Cora Evans with some of her writings.

Note the long rolls of paper in her hand.

At the end of a typical day of typing she

would have 20 or 30 feet long

(Cora Evans.com)

Final Years And Passing

In 1957 Cora Moved from Los Angles to Boulder Creek in Northern California, joining the Saint Michael Parish, Diocese of Monterrey, California. There she would live out her life continuing to experience mystical phenomena including the stigmata. Cora prayed that she would be given the same gift as Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, spending her heaven on earth doing good, and promised to pray for all who asked for her intercession. On Mar. 30, 1957 Cora passed away peacefully. An interesting footnote: Cora died exactly Twenty-two years to the day she was baptized into the Catholic faith (March 30, 1935).

Cora’s Spiritual Director

Cora’s spiritual director was a thoughtful and devoted priest with no prior experience guiding a soul such as Cora Evans. He provides the following quote when he was alive:“It is very easy to convince oneself of the abundance of charismatic graces that adorn the soul of Cora Evans, by merely reading her writings. Keeping in mind that she is a woman with little worldly education, her words of wisdom, her words of knowledge about the most exalted mysteries of religion, are charisms. What is still more extraordinary is the fact that in all her revelations, divine messages, etc., nothing is ever found that is not in accordance with sound theology. Many new details about Catholic truths, deeper knowledge of theological truths, add new light and evidence to the deposit of faith, especially regarding the humanity of Christ, the Holy Eucharist, and the indwelling of Christ.” Father Frank Parrish, S.J. (1911-2003) Confessor and Spiritual Director to Cora Evans

Current Status of Cause for Sainthood:

Declared Servant of God

The Cause for Cora Evans sainthood was opened and announced by Bishop Garcia. and declared Servant of God on Feb. 15, 2011. On Mar. 29, 2012, the Vatican grants nihil obstat, authorizing the Cause of Beatification and Canonization to proceed. A letter signed by Angelo Cardinal Amato, S.D.B., prefect, Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The Diocese of Monterey, California, is proceeding with the investigation of her life and writings. This includes the investigation into miracles including cures that are attributed to Cora Evans intersession.

Prayer for the Intercession of Cora Evans

Cora prayed that she would be given the same gift as Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, spending her heaven on earth doing good, and promised to pray for all who asked for her intercession. The Archbishop of San Francisco granted the Imprimatur for the intercessory prayer, written by Cora’s Spiritual Director, Father Frank Parrish, S.J..

Dear Jesus,

You blessed Cora Evans with many supernatural mystical gifts as a means of drawing us to a deeper and more intimate union with your Sacred Heart through Your Divine Indwelling, Your Mystical Humanity. I ask You through her intercession to help me in my special request (name the favor) and my efforts to do Your will here on earth and be with You, Your Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph and the whole Court of Heaven forever.

Say three times: the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father

Cora’s Writings Spur Profound Questions

Front cover to Cora Evans’s book title: Refugee from Heaven

(Coraevans.com)

One of the writings Cora produced is titled the “Refugee from Heaven” (Coraevans.com). This book chronicles several important periods in Christ’s Life. The book is similar to the Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich or writings by Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus Agreda (Mystical City of God) in that the writings are generated from private revelations chronicling the life, selected events, and death of Jesus Christ.

The book was inspired through visions shown to her by Jesus Christ during her many ecstasies. Cora would later sit down to type what she could recall of these visions at incredible speeds demonstrating writing ability far in excess of her level of education and usual writing ability.

Belief in private Revelation is not required by the Catholic Church but rather left to personal discernment. However, if we assume Cora’s writings are in fact divinely inspired it provides several new insights into the life of Christ as well as the death and burial of John The Baptist. New information is revealed in; The Refugee from Heaven, which may spark questions that may never be answered. Questions from the book include: Will the swaddling clothes of Jesus Christ be uncovered? Will the place of prayer built by John the Baptist be found? Is the body of John the Baptist incorrupt? Does this book lend support for the Shroud of Turin? And the most profound revelation of all: Will the Church finally locate the Holy Grail? Cora provides new details of historical and archaeological significance. And what are we to make of Cora’s interpretation of the words spoken by Jesus, Mary, the apostles, and others?

Cora prayed, “Please give me the grace to remember the vision and understanding in Thy wisdom to better relate to friends Thy hidden mystery of love for them . . . help me, Jesus, to write them as You would like them written for Thy glory to be better known among men.”
The purpose of her life, the suffering she endured, and her writings inspire us to live with awareness of the presence of Jesus. When you practice this way of prayer, known as the Mystical Humanity of Christ, you take Jesus with you wherever you go (Cora Evans.com).

Biographical Time Line And Cause For Canonization

Cora Evans, 1904-1957

(CoraEvans.com)

Beginnings

July 9, 1904

Birth, Midvale, Utah; child of Laura and Robert Yorgason

1912

Cora is baptized a Mormon (8 years old).

Jun. 4, 1924

Mormon Marriage to Mack Evans, Mormon temple in Salt Lake City (this location is the worldwide headquarters for the Mormon Church). Cora completely rejects Mormon religion based on the secret ritual and what she considers to be false teachings about God. Cora begins ten-year search for the true religion.

Dec. 9, 1934

Future Catholic Bishop is catalyst for Cora’s Conversion – Ogden, Utah: Cora listens to radio talk by Catholic Monsignor Duane Hunt (later he would become Most Reverend Hunt, Bishop of Salt Lake City), decides to visit local Catholic Church.

Cora influences more than 1,000 Mormons to visit Saint Joseph Catholic Church and numerous conversions follow

July, 1938

Ogden, Utah: mysticism – During this deep ecstasy Cora makes choice to serve God for the rest of her life. Describes state of her soul as being intimately united to God. Cora refers to this as her “vow day.”

Cora and Family Move to Los Angeles, California

Mar 17, 1941

Cora moves to Southern California and is active at Saint Cecilia’s Parish.

May 21, 1942

Apparition of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

Feb. 20, 1945

Father Frank Parrish, S.J. (1911-2003) appointed confessor and spiritual director by Father Joseph King, S.J., Provincial of the California Province of the Society of Jesus

Dec. 24, 1946

Mission entrusted to Cora Evans reveled to her by Jesus. Cora learns she is to promulgate the Mystical Humanity of Christ (the Divine Indwelling) within souls – as a way of prayer in the United States and throughout the world. Jesus promises to foster the devotion.

1945-1957

Based on ecstasies, and in complete obedience to her spiritual director, Cora writes numerous profound manuscripts and diaries.

Mystical Phenomena witnessed by priests, religious, and lay people. Many testimonies are written.

Jul. 30, 1947

Stigmata- Cora begins experiencing the stigmata. She endures frequent pain for the rest of her life in the palms of her hands, head (crown of thorns), feet and over her heart.

1948

Cora prays that Our Lord will allow her to be like the Little Flower, Saint Therese, helping souls on earth after her death.

Most Reverend Duane Hunt (1884-1960), Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, visits Cora at her home in Boulder Creek, California.

Mar. 30, 1957

Cora enters Eternal Life. Twenty-two years earlier on this same date, March 30 (1935) Cora was baptized a Catholic.

Burial in crypt in the Fatima Wing of the Mausoleum adjacent to the site where the California Jesuits are buried in Santa Clara, California.

Canonization Process

1992

Michael McDevitt is appointed custodian of the writings of Cora Evans.

1993

Organization founded by Father Frank Parrish, S.J. conducts first retreat at the Jesuit retreat house in Southern California.

1999

Organization officially named “The Mystical Humanity of Christ, Inc.” incorporated as a Catholic services organization entrusted with the promulgation of the Mystical Humanity of Christ as a way of prayer throughout the world. Initial non-profit status granted.

The remarkable story of Cora Evans told to Most Reverend Richard Garcia, Bishop of Monterey, California. Canon Law requirements reviewed.

2010

500-page Petition for opening the cause for Cora Evans presented to Bishop Garcia.

Jan. 27, 2011

Renowned postulator appointed: Fr. Joseph Grimaldi, JCD (formally Promoter of Justice for the Cause of St. Damian of Molokai).

Feb. 15, 2011

Cause for Cora Evans opened and announced by Bishop Garcia. (When the cause for sainthood is formally opened by the Bishop the person is declared a Servant of God. The Vatican later confirmed this in their letter granting the cause the nihil obstat).

Feb. 18, 2011

Imprimatur Granted for the Prayer for the Intercession of Cora Evans by Most Reverend George Niederauer, D.D., Archbishop of San Francisco. Prayer card published.

Vatican grants nihil obstat, authorizing the Cause of Beatification and Canonization to proceed. Letter (written in Latin) signed by Angelo Cardinal Amato, S.D.B., prefect, Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Jun., 2012

Bishop appointed Fr. David Schuyler, S.M., J.C.D., Episcopal Delegate. Upon his death, Bishop Garcia appointed Fr. Robert Hayes, J.C.L. to serve as Delegate.

Nov. 17, 2012

Cause for Cora Evans presented to faith community of Monterey, California, at the Cathedral of San Carlos.

Sep. 24, 2013

Front page feature article appears in 5th largest newspaper in the United States, San Jose Mercury News. Article goes viral. Organization contacted by people in 34 states and 12 foreign countries.

Nov. 23, 2013

Saint Rose of Lima Parish retreat in Newtown, Connecticut introduces parishioners to Cora Evans. Rosemary Rioux prays that Cora will intercede on behalf of her daughter.

Nov. 27, 2013

Rosemary’s daughter, Jennifer, reports complete cure of Lupus.

Dec., 2013

Publishing business launched to make writings of Cora Evans available.

The Best Photos of the Historic Turnpike Mass of 2016!

As you may have heard, a Catholic pro-life student group going home after the March for Life got stuck on the highway.

With tons of time and not much to do, they did something incredible: they build an altar out of snow and had Mass on the side of the highway! Some people nicknamed the spot the St. John Paul the Great hillside chapel.

Like this:

Few seem to know that about fifty years ago, in the Italian neighborhood in the North End of Boston, there was a lay mystic called Catherine Passananti (1894-1978). She spent hours in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and was called by Jesus, “Catherine of the Blessed Sacrament.” She had many encounters with Jesus and Mary in the Blessed Sacrament and kept a dairy of her life, visions and messages received. Her writings have come down to us thanks to Mons. Donato Conte, a firm believer in her holiness, who published four books about her. Catherine was also the foundress of the Secular Institute of the Sons and Daughters of the Holy Eucharist in Boston. She was professed with 6 companions on December 8, 1971 at the Convent of the Daughters of the Church in Rome. She spent her life praying, helping others, and was sent on “missions” by Jesus throughout the US and to other countries.

Catherine was born in Boston on January 6, 1894. Since her family was not rich, she only had an elementary school education. The family home was in the North End, the “Little Italy” of Boston. She lived there at 222 North St. for 75 years until she had to go to a nursing home. Catherine’s grandparents emigrated from Avellino, Italy in the late 19th century. Her parents Federica (1869-1954) and Genneroso Perillo (1862-1925) had 8 children: Rosina (1905-1910) and Adelina (1910-1920) died at an early age; Luigi, died at the age of 9 due to a fall in a playground in Boston; Francesco (1892-1970), Catherine Passananti, Concetta Pizzimenti (1895-1997), Josephine (1908-1989), and Aida Covino (1914-2000).

It is unclear from the sources when her mystical experiences started. It seems that she started getting messages from Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament during a retreat she made in Brighton: “In 1924, I went to the Cenacle Convent in Brighton, with a group of ten girls. We made a private retreat. We boarded there for five days. The Mother also taught me how to meditate before the Blessed Sacrament and to ask for anything I needed most, but I had to always be in a state of grace. I did get many messages for my entire family. I would get the answers but sometimes they would come in strange words, but eventually I would understand them.”(A Mystic of Boston, p.21) Her friend Geraldine Piva, later named Geraldine of St. Gerard by Jesus, and the second companion, after Margaret Laracy, the Lord chose for Catherine, recalls what Catherine told her about that retreat:

“During that time, it came to her mind that when people where before the King or the Queen, they didn’t turn their backs on them, but walked backwards as they left to show their respect. Since Christ was a King, she felt she should do the same, and so, left the chapel walking backwards. A nun, Sister Teresita, was at the chapel and watched what Catherine was doing. The sister asked her why she was walking backwards while looking towards the altar and Catherine explained the reasons for her behavior. Then, Sister Teresita said, ‘I think you are the one I must pass the gift on.’ She asked Catherine if she could meditate and Catherine answered she didn’t know what the word meant. The Sister explained the meaning of that word and asked her if she was willing to learn how to meditate. Catherine agreed to do that.” (In the Divine Light, p.201)

Catherine married at an early age in Sacred Heart Church in the North End in 1910, the church where she had been baptized and made her first Holy Communion. After the wedding, the couple went to live in her parent’s house. They had no children and her husband left her after 24 years of marriage in 1934. After that, she spent most of her life in her family home caring for her mother Federica and her sister Josephine, who never married. In her diary, she talks to Jesus about the problem with her husband: “Lord, I have a serious problem with my husband. He does not love you as I would like. What can I do, Lord? I await your answer, because my husband does not listen to me. I trust in your help”.
–“Catherine, take rest. Be patient. Trust. Continue to speak of me to him. How can you expect that he believes (sic), if you do not speak to him of Me?”
–“Lord Jesus, I ask you to give me patience; not to let me be impetuous and answer in a strong way as I have done today. Why have I raised the tone of my voice, I don’t know. Help me Lord.”
–“Catherine, learn to listen to Me more and more, in all moments of your life, each day. Use more words of love as you do with others. Share all that is beautiful in your heart, and know that I love you.”

And on another occasion: “Lord Jesus, tell me how I can resolve the problem with my husband. What can I do? I say it to You, beloved. I cannot tell You a lie. You know that I have this problem. It is unresolved. I always trusted in You but I didn’t receive an answer until now, only silence. I feel the solitude. I feel that you have in a certain way, abandoned me in my suffering. I heard several judgements dear Jesus. What can I do? Today I will not leave Your Presence until You give me an answer. I do not like to see You crucified and bloody for sins committed by my husband. Today I decide to know the solution and I know You will give it to me.” And the answer came to her: “My daughter come to Me. Give Me your heart and I shall give you My heart. In this moment I give you the solution to the problem. The thing you must do is love your husband. Every day in the Presence of My Father who is in heaven, put the person who has caused you much suffering and we should see a change.” (A Dove of God, p.95-96) Unfortunately, this is all we know about the relationship with her husband from the sources. We don’t know what happened to him after he left or whether he had a conversion later on in life.

The Blessed Virgin Mary in her Life

Catherine had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary on March 25, 1945. The blessed Virgin told her, “I am the Lady of All Titles. I appear to you as the ‘Lady of the tabernacle Door.’ This country is made up of foreign people. This country must help foreign countries.” (A Mystic of Boston, p. 23)

On January 13, 1948, she had another vision of Jesus, Mary and a group of Carmelites. During this vision she is given a scapular, “She was sitting on a throne, with the Babe on her lap. Holding Him with her left arm, and two people below kneeling. Our Lord said, “My Mother suffered from the birth to the death.” He meant, the birth of her Child, and the death of her Son; for the Babe turned to be Our Lord, dead in her arms. He said, “Please, Mother, take care of this child for she needs help.” Mary then gave me a scapular and said, “Never part with it.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.50)

Catherine was very devoted to the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and many times Jesus asked her to say the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary or the Rosary of the 7 Sorrows. Geraldine Piva tells of a vision that Catherine had related to the 7 sorrows of Mary: “Catherine told me that she admired the flowers in the Garden and Our Lord said, “Look under the flowers.” And she saw worms eating the roots. Our Lord said, “It is the evil (trying/destroying souls).” She said, she then saw Our Lady dressed in black crying. Catherine asked Our Lady if she could help, and Our Lady put her hand to her heart and said, “My First Dolor for the conversion of sinners.” (Each time placing her hand on her heart.) “My Second Dolor for people and religious suffering in the hands of the enemy.” “My Third, for all those that receive Communion at the birth of my Son shall be cured.”“Fourth, for the dying.” “Fifth, for all humanity that fears the atomic bomb.”“Sixth, for all my children to keep them pure and protect them from being attacked by the enemy.”“Seventh, for all broken homes that they may be united.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.65)

Catherine Passananti was present during the last apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Bronx on November 14, 1945. The Blessed Virgin Mary allegedly appeared to Joseph Vitolo (at the age of 9) and other children at the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, NY from October 29th to November 14th, 1945. The time Catherine went, she saw Our Lady turning towards the four corners dressed in blue. Catherine did not return to shrine at the apparition site until 1961. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament told her to go there and to take Joseph to the Shrine. She had a message for him. After this she went back many times as requested by the Lord to give messages to people there. Catherine asked the Lord what title should be given to the Lady of the Bronx, or the Lady of the Grand Concourse, as she was known, and the Lord told her she was to be called Our Lady of the Universe. On occasions, Our Lady appeared to Catherine at this Shrine as Our Lady of Sorrows. Catherine was instrumental in the purchase of the Shrine which was given to 7 devotees of the Virgin Mary, including Joseph. It was also through Catherine that Joseph met his wife Grace with whom he had two daughters. (In the Divine Light, p. 221-223)

Visions of Purgatory

It seems that Catherine was sometimes taken to Purgatory to assist the Poor Souls. On October 6, 1947, she wrote down this vision: “I saw people below ground level, thousands of them in rows. Immorality. Are these people to be saved? “To have them lifted up, they must be cleaned (sic) by prayers, many prayers.” I saw Jesus. Mary, Joseph and my Guardian Angel of my right. The protector Angel (on my left) will take me to the people.” (A Mystic of Boston, p. 43) On March 8, 1963 she was taken near the pit of hell, which she often refers to: “Our Lord came to me and said, “Come with Me, I will take you near the pit of hell.” I got frightened. We went, it looked like a large cellar or basement but it was very light. I saw a priest there, he was behind a wall-only it was half. Behind the half wall, I saw a priest, I saw him from the waist up. The place did not impress me, for there was much light. The priest was bald in the center of his head-hair circled around the bald head. He looked like a monk. Our Lord said, “You have saved a soul.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.348) A couple of weeks later, she had another vision, “I see way out, in a wide space-full of people screaming help us. Guards were holding them back. I asked who they were. I was told, “Suffering souls near the pit of hell.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.349) In another vision she was shown how these souls near the pit of hell are able to move away from the entrance and regain hope when we pray for them. (A Mystic in Boston, p.361)

Catherine’s mother Federica Passananti

Her Mother, Federica

Her mother, Federica, was a very pious woman, a daily communicant who prayed the Rosary constantly. Catherine considered her a saint and Jesus told her repeatedly that one day her mother, Federica, would be canonized. On September 22, 1951, while Federica was still alive, Jesus told Catherine, “Your mother will grant many graces after her death.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.124) On April 19, 1955, Catherine had a vision about her mother, “Here lies a Saint to be canonized. To be written on stone.” (A Mystic of Boston, p. 153) Catherine’s mother died on December 10. 1954. Her mother started appearing to her as soon as 8 months after her death. On October 6, 1955, Catherine wrote, “I see my mother, way up high, standing in full length on a cloud. And she spoke to me and said, ‘I will go visit her. It will not happen.’” (A Mystic from Boston, p. 158) As it happens many times in Catherine’s dairy, there is not context to this situation, so it is not clear what her mother was referring to. Even though Catherine keeps seeing her mother frequently after death, she mentions that Jesus revealed to her when her mother entered Heaven, which was 5 years after her death, which would mean that the first apparitions of Federica to Catherine were as a soul in Purgatory. “Dear Lord, you told me in the Blessed Sacrament my mother Federica, went to Heaven 5 years after she left this Earth. My father Joseph, left this earth in 1925, after 40 years he went into Heaven. My mother, is now in Paradise.” (Moments Divine, p.96)

About a year after her mother died, she had this vision, “I see a grave. My mother on top, laid out, and roses spread around her. I was told to bring roses from the shrine (her mother’s shrine at home) and spread it around her and say the Rosary.” (A Mystic of Boston, p. 161) Later, her mother told her that she could give these roses to whomever she wished. Jesus told her to visit her mother’s grave with her friends frequently. Geraldine Piva recalls, “We used to bring roses to her grave. One day, Catherine, Margaret (her old companion) and I went to visit her grave, in compliance to our Lord’s requests. The roses didn’t stand upright and kept falling on her grave (several times), so that I said to Catherine, ‘Perhaps they want to touch the ground.’ Catherine said, ‘You may be right.’ So, we took every rose and put it on the ground; afterwards, they stood upright. Shortly after, Our Lord told Catherine to take some of the earth from the grave back home. Our Lord told her to get some roses and have them touch the earth she had previously taken home. Those roses were given to some people who wished to keep them. Many favors were granted and so Our Lord said, ‘There are roses in graces and graces in roses’.” (In the Divine Light, p. 202-203)

On July 11, 1962, Jesus told Catherine, “Give a picture of Federica to Rose Signorelli (a friend of Catherine who lived in Yonkers, NY) and to pray to her. Federica will not refuse her. Those that have received favors, peace of mind and heart; those who have received graces, may give a little charity in memory of Federica.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.319) Catherine was so convinced that her mother would be canonized that she felt very confused when Jesus told her to go to a nursing home, but she still trusted God: “Now we must move from this house. I lived in this house 75 years. You said there would be a shrine to Federica here, but it is all changed. You do understand what is in my heart. You said, ‘Federica would be canonized in time.’ You spoke to me in the Blessed Sacrament, before my mother left this earth. But me and my family are happy to know that 5 years after Federica left this earth, You, dear Lord, told me she entered into Heaven, not to have Requiem Masses anymore, now she has entered into Paradise. My family and I, are very happy that she is in Heaven. We are looking forward that Federica will be canonized.” (Moments Divine, p.105-6)

Mystical Graces and Experiences

Catherine experienced several other mystical phenomena. In one of her diary entries, it seems that she has received Holy Communion miraculously. On May 12, 1956, Jesus told her, “I have classed thee among the Apostles, for you have faith. Open your mouth wide.” She did and the host went into her mouth (A Mystic of Boston, p.173)

She also experienced the crown of thorns. She wrote on July 3, 1953, “I was the Blessed Virgin on my left with a crown on her head. I noticed especially, her crown was with prongs. Then I see before me, Our Lord with the Crown of Thorns on His Head. He took the crown and placed it on my head and said, ‘Make a Novena 12 days, and say 12 Our Fathers, Hail Mary’s and Glory Be for the 12 thorns.’
Then there were roses on my mother’s bed.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.176)

On March 8, 1958, she had a vision of her mystical espousal, “Afternoon, 3 p.m., I went to bed very weak and I had a vision. There was someone standing on my left, but in front of my left. He took my left hand, where I had my wedding band, and said,‘I bless thee.’ He put His right Hand on my finger, and pointed at my wedding band, and said, ‘With this ring I wed thee.’” (A Mystic of Boston, p. 223)

Catherine was visited by several saints, such as St. Gerard and St. Joseph. She also had many after death appearances of Pope Pius XI. On April 4, 1949, Jesus told Catherine, “He will be exhumed, blessed and elected among the saints, Pope Pius XI.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.83)
One day Catherine asked Jesus who were her Guardian Angels and Jesus replied, “St. Michael, Mary-cousin of My Mother Mary, Saint Teresita (St. Therese of Lisieux), and your mother, Federica.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.375)

Like many victim souls, Catherine was able to mystically assist the dying. She had this experience on January 13, 1957: “Sunday afternoon I went to bed feeling very sick. In the vision, I was carried down, down, down. Then, I felt my head was to explode. The veins in my body were about to explode .I suffered and suffered. Then the voice said, ‘Has passed away, or the person has passed away.’ I asked was it a she? Someone I know? I know, I am sure for I could not go through all that suffering if I did not know the person. And the voice said, ‘He, he has just passed away.’ I came to; my eyes wide open, but could not see anything. Then I went through a torture of my body. My whole system was realized (sic), and very weak. I was sensitive for what I went through, my heart was very weak. I could not cry for a while. And then, to my heart’s content, I cried, and cried, and cried. I wonder if I was sorry for myself. I hope not.” (A Mystic of Boston, p. 194) We don’t find out who that person was. Might it have been her husband?

She also experienced her own dying in a vision when she was in the Bronx on June 16, 1963. She says, “It was confusion, I was on my deathbed.” In a frightened voice she started calling, “Ma, Ma” but felt that her mother could not help her. The only one who could help her was a little man, whom she had seen in a previous vision, who came from near the pit of hell. She said he was very humble like a beggar. She heard the Eternal Father saying, “I am Just. You are a creature.” She concludes writing about this experience by saying, “It is frightening, but I don’t mind having gone through it. Always pray for the dying, it is so hard to die.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.354-356)

Messages and Prophecies

When friends and relatives realized Catherine was getting messages from God, they would bring their troubles to her and ask for advice. She would take all these problems and questions before the Blessed Sacrament and very often was given messages for people that brought great comfort to them. Again, Geraldine Piva, recalls, “Once, someone was given a message different from that (sic) expected and so, they started to discuss the contents of the message. When he went before God, she said much to her regret, ‘But Dear Lord, they don’t believe.’ Our Lord replied, ‘Catherine, my child, they don’t understand.’ Then Catherine said, ‘At times, I don’t understand either. ’ Our Lord replied, ‘Catherine, don’t you realize that, on some occasions, I don’t want you to understand?’” (In the Divine Light, p.195) This may explain why some of the prophecies that she received about world events turned out to be wrong, such as Trumann’s reelection to the Presidency in 1952. (A Mystic of Boston, p.129). She also said that Pope Pius XII would die before his 82nd birthday, but he died 6 months after his birthday on October 9, 1958. (A Mystic of Boston, p.199) She also got wrong the year of her death. On May, 1974, she wrote, “I have seven more years before I leave this earth.” (Moments Divine, p.69) However, she died 4 years later in 1978.

Some of the messages she received are very interesting. For example, talking about other religions, Jesus told her, “I AM not in Body in other Religions, but in Spirit. I do possess them in all Religions. If they cannot receive Me in Body, they shall receive Me in Spirit. Now, my child, do not be disturbed for there are many things that are not right, it will be corrected.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.406)

John Haffert, the prolific Marian writer, met Catherine and asked her prayers for the success of his first book. When she asked Jesus if his book would be successful, He told her, “Yes. In the future, it will be tremendously successful; he will write more books in time. I have blessed him in his traveling. He is much precious in My Heart.” (A Mystic of Boston, p. 492)

About receiving Holy Communion in the hand, Jesus told her, “I am not pleased but it must be accepted.” (A Mystic of Boston, p. 618)

Finally, she felt that it was part of her mission to denounce the Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements. On November 8, 1971 when she asked Jesus if He approved of the Pentecostal Movement, He replied, “It is diabolical.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.652) She even wrote a letter to Pope Paul VI stating, “My Dear Holy Father, Pope Paul, the all-powerful Vicar of Christ, I have a secret for you from the Blessed Sacrament, You are to be warned of the great disaster coming on its way. The disaster of the Pentecostal Movement. Our Lord said in the Blessed Sacrament, “It is diabolical,” they have changed the name to Charismatic Movement. Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament said, “It is one in (sic) the same” meaning Pentecostal and Charismatic.” (A Mystic of Boston, p. 809) She was given the mission to go to several convents to give this same message. (Moments Divine, p.99)

Her Life and Mission

Catherine Passananti’s mission was to do the will of God. By spending endless hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament, Catherine learned to hear her Master’s voice and carry out His requests. Jesus directed her as to what prayers and sacrifices she had to offer and for which intentions, what messages she had to deliver and where she had to travel. He chose her companions and her spiritual directors. Therefore, when we look at her life, we can see it was God’s mission, not Catherine’s; she was just a faithful servant.

During her lifetime, she was directed and helped by many priests chosen by God. Her first spiritual director was Fr. Joseph Reardon, a Maryknoll priest, who directed her until his death in 1959. Just a few days after his death, he started appearing to Catherine and asked her to take messages and bring consolation to his family. Other priests she worked with were Fr. Cantwell, Fr. Sullivan and Fr. John Santyr. In 1951, Our Lord instructed her to take her messages to Fr. Dougherty, a Redemptorist priest at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in Roxbury, because he had been chosen to take these messages to Cardinal Cushing. Fr. Dougherty asked why he had been chosen and Catherine said because of his great devotion to the Holy Spirit. (In the Divine Light, p.198) In 1957 Catherine had cancer and underwent 4 operations but she mentions that it was Jesus who cured her.

Catherine had an intense prayer life and formed many prayer groups. Jesus would tell her what intentions to pray for in the Rosary. In her diary she writes down how Jesus directed her. This is a typical entry from January 14, 1961:
”Kneel down. Make your sign of the Cross. Repeat, ‘Oh My God, I am heartily sorry…’ Sit down, Start with your Joyful Mysteries. First ‘I believe in God,’ three Our Father’s to the Blessed Trinity. Begin with the first Joyful Mystery-For those that are condemned to death. 2nd-For the dying. 3rd-For the poor and hungry souls. 4th-For all that are carrying their Cross. 5th-For humble souls. Begin with the Sorrowful Mysteries. 1st-For the most suffering souls. 2nd-For those near the pit of hell. 3rd-For those that have refused Me as their God and Father. 4th-For all those that have purged Me. 5th-For all those that stood by Me at the Cross. Now for the Glorious Mysteries.1st-For all souls in Heaven. 2nd-That we will all rejoice in the end. 3rd-For all that are filled with the Holy Spirit and they will be close to My Heart. And ask My Mother to help. 4th-For all that are confused and do not understand. Ask My Mother, Mary, to help all. 5th-That you will rejoice with My Mother and she will conquer in the end.” (A Mystic of Boston, p. 303-304) She was frequently asked to pray the Rosary for Martin Luther and all priests in darkness.

Jesus often asked her to pray the Chaplet of the Holy Trinity. The following is a prayer to the Holy Trinity that Jesus gave her:

“Most Holy Trinity I commend myself to Thee. I do promise not to offend Thee, nor displease Thee. On this very day, I will offer You all my doings, temporal and spiritual. I must also remember not to be displeased in Your doings.” (A Mystic of Boston, p. 270)

She also ministered to abandoned children. In 1949, the Lord told her, “You will meet the children at the end of the road.” Together with her companion Margaret Laracy, she found the St. Vincent de Paul Home for children that was literally “at the end of the road.” For the following two years Catherine and her group spent every Sunday with the Sisters at this home. (In the Divine Light, p. 199-200)

The Lord sent her on Missions throughout the country and also to Peru and Venezuela. About this, she writes: “Sometimes, I can’t understand myself. Especially when you send me on Your Missions, in strange countries with names or places. Of course, we do find the place in the end. But I do want to thank You many, many times, for having us return to our homes safe and not too hurt. I know You will always protect us no matter how difficult it is.” (Moments Divine, p.39)

In 1969 she met Rev. Mother Olivia, Daughter of the Church, in her convent in Rome. This is the convent where on December 8, 1971, Catherine and her companions would make the profession of their consecration as the Seven Daughters of the Church of the Holy Eucharist. They made their profession to Msgr. Joseph Conte. Then, they went to St. Peter’s square to receive a Papal blessing of Pope Paul VI, who welcomed them and blessed them as the “Seven Daughters of the Church of the Holy Eucharist from Boston.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.654)

When she was 75, she moved together with her sister Josephine to a nursing home in the North End as instructed by the Lord. Her family house was sold.

In 1972, Fr. Remingo, Pastor of the Sacred Heart Parish in the North End, asked her to conduct Holy Hours on the First Fridays of the month. She was reluctant but Our Lord gave her permission and she did this until her death in 1978.

Monsignor Donato Conte, author of four books about Catherine Passananti

The Mission Continues: Msgr. Donato Conte

All the information for this article was taken from the four books that exist about Catherine Passananti all written by Msgr. Donato Conte. What is interesting is that Msgr. Donato Conte never met Catherine during her lifetime. He came to learn about her and her writings in 1993. Msgr. Conte lives in Rome but has been coming to spend his summers at St. Florence Church in Wakefield, MA for years. In 1993, a parishioner named Estelle Filadoro, told him, “Finally I have met a priest that is able to understand my spiritual life and my spiritual confidences, and able to enjoy and venerate the divine intimacy of Catherine Passananti with Jesus’ Heart, with Mary and with the Blessed Sacrament. During my life I have met many priests, but I find God’s will only in you, Msgr. Donato Conte. I have waited. I have waited for a long time, and I have waited in His time, in God’s time and in God’s will.”
Msgr. Conte replied, “Estelle, please, I do not speak English; I do not speak English at all well.” To which she answered, “God will help you, do not be afraid, Champion of God, and Catherine of the Blessed Sacrament will be with you.” (In the Divine Light, p.14)

In the summer of 1994, he was given the personal diary of Catherine Passananti by Grace Gallo, a cousin of Catherine. Msgr. Conte describes his reaction: “Reading it, I was really amazed. It is difficult to find a person who, without a high school education, is able to speak so deeply, and to teach spiritual theology better than a theologian. She teaches a true spiritual theology and supernatural experience. During the reading of the personal notes I was surprised to find a person so close to God, a person inspired and moved by the Holy Spirit. I was surprised at feeling the same emotions and the same feelings that I feel when I stand in front of Jesus Christ, closed in the Divine House of the Tabernacle, and finally, I was surprised to realize that Catherine Passananti had the same theological knowledge that I have.” (In the Divine Light, p.15)

On September 1st, 1995, on an Alitalia flight returning to Rome, he had a mystical experience: “A voice came from above and repeated to me many times: ‘Donato, please talk about Catherine Passananti, speak, speak, write a book about her personality and spirituality.’” (In the Divine Light, p.15)

Another confirmation about his special Mission with Catherine was that one night he had a dream about a woman, not tall, dressed in black, who told him, “You have to write my life, your name, spiritually has always been present among my spiritual friends (Father Donato). Read my notes and you will understand.”
That same night, a woman called Dolores called him about 11:00 o’clock at night, woke him up and started talking to him about Catherine Passananti. (In the Divine Light, p. 16-17).

Msgr. Conte has followed the inspirations of the Holy Spirit and has published 4 books about Catherine. He is a firm believer in her holiness and the importance of her message for our times, and he has written: “Catherine, the mystic of the beautiful American city of Boston, had a depth of divine intimacy with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and with the Blessed Mother, our Tabernacle Door on this earth…I believe in her, this humble creature of God, and I believe with all my heart, my strength and my life. I wish that other spirits, other souls would be open to this extraordinary walk of faith and love made by the Italo-American, Catherine Passananti.” (A Mystic of Boston, p.1064)

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The four books about Catherine Passananti written by Msgr. Donato Conte are:

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(Rome) An exorcist is at the forefront in the fight against the devil. One of them is Father Francesco Bamonte. He is an exorcist of the diocese of the Pope. “A typical behavior of the devil during the exorcism is to often talk about destruction and annihilation. All that is beautiful, good, healthy, pure, harmonious is mocked and threatened with extinction and destruction,” says the exorcist. Particularly striking was the hatred of the devil against the sacrament of marriage, family ties and affection. “He reacts very violently when one blesses the marriage of two married people or if they are invited to renew their wedding vows,” says Father Bamonte.

Francesco Bamonte belongs to the young Order of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at (ICMS) founded in 1991. The Cordis Mariae immaculati Servi are an Order of diocesan right. Born in 1960, Father Bamote was ordained a priest in 1990. Since 2012 he has been Chairman of the Italian Association of Exorcists .

Immediately after his ordination to the Order, he turned to especially the Sacrament of Penance and in this regard to help the victims of occult practices. In 1997 he became a member of the International Association of Exorcists. Since 2005 he is a lecturer at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University in Rome, where he directs the course on Exorcism and Deliverance Prayer. At the request of the bishops of various Italian and foreign dioceses, he instructs seminarians on the subject of occultism and exorcism and their consequent pastoral issues. He also supports priests who are appointed as exorcists in their diocese by the bishop.

Father Bamontes Books: How to Recognize the Father of Lies

In 2000 he published the first book about his experiences as an exorcist: “What to do with Wizards? How to Free Yourself of the Superstition and Protect Against Fraud ” (Cosa fare con questi maghi?); followed in 2004 by the book “Harmful Spiritualism. The Occult Work of the Evil in the Alleged Contacts with the Hereafter ” (I danni dello spiritismo), and in 2006 the volume: “Demonic Possession and Exorcism. How to Recognize the Cunning Deceiver “; in 2008: “The Fallen Angels. The Mystery of Evil in the Experience of an Exorcist .” His most recent book was published in 2010 under the title: “The Virgin Mary and the Devil in Exorcism.”

At the annual meeting in 2013, the Italian exorcist Father Bamonte gave a remarkable speech. He said: “A repeating in feature in exorcisms is the insistent demand of the demon, that men ought to worship him as if he were God. The demon who will not accept his creatureness, dangles himself pretending to be God, and he is greedily keen that people offer to him a cult which belongs to God alone. During the exorcism, he often says, ‘Pray to me, pray to me, I am God, I am God! Kneel down, when my name is called. I am all-powerful! Call me! ‘ On these statements I reply, with No. 20 of the Roman Ritual (titulus XII “De exorcizandis obsessis a doemonio”) which recommends the words of Jesus in the desert and the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians.

The Devil Wants to be Worshiped: “I am God!”

Another essential feature in the behavior of the demon during the exorcism, is that it is particularly common to speak of “destruction and destruction.” Everything that is “good, beautiful, healthy, pure, harmonious” is covered with derision by the demon. He threatens to destroy everything. The special hatred of the demonic forces applies to the sacrament of marriage and the family. The priest tells of an exorcism in which the demon said to him: “I do not like the way the women are dressed. You must undress them even more so their sex is more prevalent and I can destroy more families!” With other exorcisms, the demon spoke in a very metaphorical way of the sex organs as “center of the world”. The devil responds with “rage,” if the marriage of a couple is blessed or the engagement of young people who want to be chaste until marriage. The devil cursed such decisions for purity and chastity as “filth” says Father Bamonte.

“I Try to Eat the Children” – Abortion and Sexual Seduction

An outstanding feature of the “personality” of the devil is his “abysmal hatred”. He “enjoys the evil in whatever form it occurs.” In one exorcism, he cried: “Take this heinous book of the Apocalypse. It is written about a woman who gives birth. I always try to eat the children. Do you know how?” Then the devil described with frightening words, the daily mass murder of thousands of unborn children who are killed by abortion in the womb. He also illustrated in all details, the heinous sexual abuse of children. He always added in his appalling statements a horrible: “How much I enjoy that!” after, says Father Bamonte. He also said that when he was talking about how young people destroy themselves through drug use or about Islamic suicide bombers who blow themselves up in the air.

The Perverts and Scoffers: “Come Unto Me, All Ye That are Funny and Perverted”

“It is shocking, how he twists everything and turns it upside down in which he turns evil into good and good into evil. When I held out to him a relic, he shouted: ‘What a stench. Which is how he sees Him. With Him, he means Jesus Christ, whose name he never pronounces out of contempt and hatred. When I showed him a rosary, he said, ‘accursed chain with the cross at the end ‘. When I sprinkled it with holy water, the possessed, the devil, protested angrily, ‘I will not be washed out by this water, that stinks and burns’. When I spoke the words over a possessed, ‘Bless Lord this brother the devil snarled immediately, ‘he shall be damned, I’ll take him to hell!’ In the words of the Gospel: all Come to me, ye that labor and have to carry heavy loads. I will give you refreshment,’ he cried, ‘no, all comes to me, you who labor and have to carry heavy loads. I will give you refreshment! ‘”

The Exorcist continued: “When I came to the words , inimìce fidei, hostis, umani generis, adducto mortis’ in the course of an exoricism, the demon gave his entire devotion to evil and for evil to be recognized: The power of sin will be our altar on which we will sacrifice the souls of your damn sons and daughters on this altar, we will shed the blood of your damn sons and daughters. There is a god for those who hate, and that god is my god. ‘”

“The Hatred of People Nourishes Me”

The devil shows his true colors during the exorcisms. He must be seen to reveal himself as he is, as the one who constantly to divide people against each other and tries to incite them. He enjoys the hatred between people and craves human malignancy, “This is food that nourishes and strengthens me,” he had replied once, said Father Bamonte.

“Many times,” says the exorcist, “I have heard the demon in perfect agreement with the Church’s teaching that evil is a free decision of a man. He also had to admit that he can not do anything against the will of man, if it opposes the grace that supports him. Therefore, he is, as he clearly explains again and again, the great tempter who wants to tempt people always anew: Our duty is to tempt, always, anyone, anywhere and under any circumstances. Some get caught up in our net, some forever! “

The Power of Prayer and the Sacred Liturgy

The Exorcism proves the immediate potency of prayer, says the exorcist of the Diocese of Rome. “The exorcism is a liturgical action and thus a prayer of the Church. The Exorcist does nothing on his own behalf, but everything is in the name of Jesus Christ and the Church. When we see how much this rite disturbs the devil and the demons and defeats him, then we become aware of all the other liturgical actions of the Church and prayer and the grace they obtain as more powerful. That must really encourage us to pray, to make use of the Sacraments ad to visit Holy Mass.

In an exorcism, the demon had to admit, “apparently forced by God” and say, “If you people live on your knees before Him and worship Him and would sing His praise, as do the angels, we would not have all the power, which you give to us about you. “

Self-styled mystic Angelik Caruana, a father of four who works as a receptionist at a home for the elderly in Floriana, attracted a group of followers when he claimed that a statue of the Virgin in his home was weeping tears of blood and oozing oil.